Burglar apparatus.



M. PLESEC.

BURGLAR APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED APB. 1s, 1910.

PatentedDec. 13, 1910.

3 SHBETBnSHEBT' 1.

M AAA M. PLESBC.

BURGLAR APPARATUS.

APPLIogTIoN FILED APB. 15, 1-910.

s SHEETS-SHEET a.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

M. PLESBG.

BURGLAR APPARATUS. Y

APPLICATION FILED APB..15, 1910.

Patented Dec. 13,1910.

S SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

MARTIN PLESEC, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BURG-LAR APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 13, 1910.

Application filed April 15, 1910. Serial No. 555,675.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN ILnsno, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Burglar Apparatus, ofwvhich the following is a specification.

My present invention has to do with burglar apparatus- 2l e., apparatus for thvarting the efforts of burglars to surreptitiously enter dwellings, stores and other buildings; and it has for one of its objects to provide a simple, reliable and eflicient apparatus calculated to trap and securely hold a burglar when the miscreant steps and imposes his weight on the platform comprised in the apparatus.

rIhe apparatus is designed to be placed inside a building below a window, or flush with the floor at a point adjacent a street door so as to assure a burglar stepping on the aforesaid platform when he makes a forced entrance.

In the present application of my invention, the apparatus is placed with its frame in horizontal position within a building below a window thereof; and the novelty and utility of such application will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the arrangement of my novel apparatus in a building and below a window thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail lvertical section illustrating one of the devices for sounding an alarm synehronously with the trapping of a burglar. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking downward. Fig. it a vertical section taken at a right angle to Fig. l.. Fig. is an enlarged vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1 illustrating one of the tubes fixed to and depending from the main frame, and also Villustrating the rack bar in said tube and certain elements that coperate with said rack bar. Fig. (3 is a vertical section taken at a right angle to Fig. 5, and showing the arrangement of the rack bar and the jaw closer thereon relative to the jaws. Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal section illustrating the arrangement of one of the vertical rock shafts relative to a key for turning the same. Fig. 8 a perspective view on a reduced scale, of the trap jaws. Fig. 9 is a reduced plan view, partly broken away, of the apparatus. Fig. 10 is an inverted plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the jawclosers and the adjacent portions of the jaws.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which:

A is a wall of a buildinv.

B is a window therein, and C is the main frame of my novel apparatus, which is suitably fxed in horizontal position to the inner side of the wall and is disposed slightly below the window, as shown. The said main frame C is provided with a central opening D, and is also provided with two parallel hangers E, Figs. 1 and l and 10. rlhe main frame C and the hangers E thereon may be supported in any manner consonant with the purpose of my invention as by uprights El disposed under the hangers after the manner shown and designed to rest at their lower ends on a floor or the like.

In the opening D of main frame C is arranged a vertically movable platform F, slightly smaller in area than the opening, which platform F is yieldingly supported so that its upper side is normally flush with that of the main frame. The platform F is supported by horizontal bars Gr ixed to its underside, and upright coiled springs I-I interposed between said barsG and the horizontal portions of the hangers E and suitably retaincd in position. The bars G extend beyond the platform F and hence are adapted to bring up against the underside of the main frame C and limit upward movement of the platform, and in that way assure the platform normally resting flush with the upper side of the main frame. See Fig. 1.

Formed in the main frame C, at opposite ends of the opening D and in communication with said opening D, are small openings I, and formed fin the opposite ends of the platform Fand arranged opposite the l small openings I are still smaller openings J, one opening I and one opening J being shown in Fig. 6. The platform F is further provided in its upper side with recesses K which communicate with the openings and are provided in order to normally receive doors L which are hinged at M and have for their office to normally rest over and cover the openings J and yet not interfere with the movement upward through said openings J of the jaw-closers, hereinafter described. N N are brackets, fixed to the underside of the main frame C and having reduced portions disposed under the said openings I and openings J. P P are apertured lugs on each of said reduced portions. and R- R are bail-shaped jaws connected in hinged manner by pintles S to the said lugs P and normally resting in the opening D and between the walls thereof and the edges of the platform F, and flush with the upper sides of the main frame C and platform F. It will be readily understood from this that when the jaw closers T are moved upward through the openings l and openings J the said jaw closers will open and move past the doors L and by cooperating with the arms of the bail-shaped jaws will raise said aws and carry the outer portions thereof toward each other; and it will also be understood that when the jawclosers T are moved downward7 the jaws will swing` or may be moved by hand downward and back to their normal positions iiush with the upper sides of the frame C and platform F.

Fixedly connected to and depending from the reduced portions of the brackets N are tubes U, and connecting the lower ends of the tubes U is a horizontal tube V having an enlarged intermediate portion V3 in which are apertures V4 and V5 for the escape of smoke, and from the. middle of which rises a tube lV for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The tubes U are each provided with a vertical slot a which extends through the greater part of its length, and each tube U is also provided with an aperture Z) arranged diametrically opposite its slot a, and comparatively short vertical slots c formed at opposite points in its lower portion and at right angles to the long slot a.

Movable vertically in the fixed tubes U and through apertures in the reduced portions of the brackets N are rack bars X to the upper ends of which the jaw-closers T are fixed, and hence it will be manifest that the jaw-closers T will move upward and downward with the said rack bars. The jaw-closers T are open rectangular frames carried at the inner ends of and integral with horizontal plates fixed on the upper ends of the rack bars X.

Y Y are hangers xed to the main frame C.

Z Z are pins iixedly connected to the rack bars X'and movable vertically in the slots a of the fixed tubes U.

A2 A2 ar-e vertically-movable levers fulcrumed on the hangers Y and having their inner arms pivotally connected to the pins Z.

B2 B2 are weights secured on the outer comparatively long arms of the levers A2.

C2 C2 are vertically swinging frames receivingand pivoted to opposite sides of the fixed tubes U.

D2 D2 are rock-shafts fixed to the inner side bars of the frames C2 and journaled in the fixed tube W and having arms E2. The arms E2 are connected by a short rod section E7 which extends between the two arms and assures the same moving together.

F2 is a plate fixed to the underside of the platform F and having a short rod G2 guided in the upper end of the fixed tube lV, and also having a depending portion H2 connected in a hinged manner to the arms E2 on the rock-shafts D2.

T2 I2 are pawls pivoted on corresponding ends of the frames C2 and yieldingly held in engagement with the beveled teeth of the rack bars K by tractile springs J2.

K2 K2 are vertical rock-shafts journaled in the brackets N and having angular upper ends disposed below and in communication with keyholes /Z in the upper side of the main frame C (see Fig. 7), and also having arms c connected to the pawls I2. The arms e are xed to the rock-shafts K and extend loosely through transverse apertures in the nawls l2. @ne of the shafts K2 and the adjacent parts are shown in Fig. 3, and by reference to said figure it will be seen that when the shaftK2 is turned about a vertical axis in the direction indicated by arrow, the arm c will be swung in a horizontal plane, as indicated by arrow, to move the upper arm of the adjacent pawl T2 out of engagement with the adjacent rack bar X, this against the action of the tractile spring J2 which is connected to the lower arm of said pawl I2 and serves to normally hold the pawl in engagement with the rack bar.

L2 L2 are dogs pivoted to the opposite ends of the swinging frames C2. with reference to the pawls I2, and extending through the slots a. in the fixed tubes ll and adapted to seat in recesses f (see Fig. in the rack bars K.

M2 M2 are arms integral with the dogs L2, and N2 N2 are screws threaded through suitable bearings fixed to the main frame C and having their lower ends arranged above the said arms M2 of the dogs L2, and also having angular upper ends disposed below and in communication with keyholes g formed in the upper side of the main frame C7 Fig.

lVhen through the medium of suitable keys or wrenches (not'shown) the screws N2 are turned downward to such an extent as to prevent upward movement of the arms l\'f27 it will be manifest that the dogs L2 will be retained in the recesses f of the rack bars X, and consequently upward movement of. said rack bars and operation of the apparatus will be prevented. This provision is made in order that a person may step on the platform F with safety, as in the day time when there is no danger from burglars. W'hen, however, the screws N2 are turned upward to permit of upward movement of the arms Mf" and the adjacent ends of the frames C2, the device is set and ready to catch and hold a burglar. The oper: tion then is as follows:

lVhen the burglar places his weight upon the plat-form F, the said platform will be depressed to a slight extent. whereupon the shafts D2 and the frames C2 will be rocked, and the dogs L2 will be drawn out of the recesses in the rack-bars X. The weighted levers will then operate to raise the rack bars X 4and the jaw-closers T, and the jaws R will be clos-ed upon and caused to securely hold the leg or legs of the burglar. lt will also be observed in this connection that when the rack bars X are moved upward as stated, the pawls I2 by engaging the teeth ot' the rack bars will prevent retrograde movement of said bars and opening of the jaws; and it will further be observed that at each upward movement of the rack bars X, the pawls I2 will take a fresh hold, with the result that the more a burglar pulls upward on the jaws to release himself, lthe more securely will he be held. To release the burglar it is necessary to introduce suitable keys through i the keyholes cl and turn the rock-shafts K2 about their axes and cause the arms c of said rock-shafts to swing in a horizontal plane and thereby move and hold the pawls I2 out of engagement with the teeth of the rack bars X; when said rack bars can be depressed against the action of the weights on the weighted levers, to permit of downward movement of the jaws R, and the release of the culprit.

Of course it is desirable to shape the upper ends of the rock-shafts K2 of each apparatus differently from the shafts K2 of every other apparatus, this in order that the pawls I2 of each apparatus can only be disengaged from the rack bars X thereof by the keys complementary to said apparatus.

0n the upper ends of the rack bars X and above the plates which carry the jaw-closers T ail secured blocks m, ot' wood or other suitable material, which are designed to normally occupy the openings I in the main frame C and rest flush with the upper sides of the main frame C and platform F, and are also designed to move upwardly with the rack bars X and the jaw closers T. lVhen it is considered that the jaws R are bail-shaped and are connected at their ends to the lugs P in a pivotal manner and at points immediately above the jaw clef-:ers T, it will be understood that during said upward movement of the rack bars X and the l jaw closers 'l`, the said jaw closers will operate by moving upward on the end arms of the bail-shaped jaws to swing the said end arms of the jaws toward each other, and in that i'ay will carry the outer or trans 70 verse portions ot the jaws toward each other, and enable said portions to catch and hold a burglar between them. The relative arrangement of one jaw closer T and the ends of the jaws adjacent thereto is clearly shown in Fig. (S.

lVith a view to sounding an alarm when the rack bars X are moved upwardly to trap and hold a burglar, I provide the devices best shown in Figs. 1 and 9, there being one 80 ot' said devices employed in combination with each rack bar X and weighted lever A?. lnasmuch as the said devices are identical in construction, the one shown at the left of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2 will sullice to impart 85 a definite ul'iderstanding of both. The device referred to comprises an apertured plug Z screwed into one end of the tube V and adapted to receive a blank cartridge, m2, an apertured cap n detachably secured by a bayonet slot or other fastening on the said plug Z, a pointed hammer y) fulcrumed at an intermediate point of its length in the tube U and extending loosely through the slots r: in said tube, a tractile spring r connected at one end to a projection on the tube U and at its other end to the upper end or arm of the hammer 79, and a hell-crank s fulcrumed at t on the tube U and having a curvilinear slot a in one of its arms, which slot receives the adjacent pin Z, and, also having on its other arm a lateral projection v which is adapted to engage and depress the upper arm of the hammer y) and then suddenly release the same so as to enable the spring fr to forcibly return the said han'nner to its normal position and thereby impel the lower arm of the hammer against the blank cartridge and sound the alarm. It will be observed in this connection that the bellcrank and the hannner normally rest in the position shown in Fig. 2, and that when the rack bar X is raised with the pin Z in the manner and for the purpose before described, the pin by moving in the curvilinear slot u of the bell-crank will rock the said bell-c ank in the direction indicated by arrow and will through the medium o'l the lateral projection r on the bell crank rock the hammer p against the action of the spring fr until the said projection fr passes out of engagement with the hammer, when the hammer will be impelled against the blank cartridge and the alarm sounded as before stated. The coiled spring ZL on the pin Z serves to press the adjacent lever A2L and a washer Z3 against the side of the slotted arm of the bell-crank .s with a view of preventing too freel movement of the bell-crank.

After the cartridge has been fired the cap a may be readily removed as may the empty shell, and then a fresh cartridge may be placed in position, followed by the cap.

IVhile I have shown and described one form of my invention, it is to be understood that I am not limited to the details or the form or relative arrangement of parts disclosed, but that extensive modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a burglar trapping apparatus, the combination of a frame having a large opening and also having small openings at opposite ends of and in communication with the large opening and further having depending hangers disposed below the large opening, a vertically movable platform resting in the large opening of the frame and flush with the upper side thereof and having at its under side bars which extend beyondthe large opening and are adapted to bring up against the under side of the frame, coiled springs interposed between the horizontal portions of the hangers and the said bars and yieldingly supporting the platform, brackets fixed to the under side of the frame and having reduced portions extending under small openings in the platform and also having upstanding lugs disposed in said small -openings, bail-shaped, vertically swinging jaws e pivoted to the said lugs and normally resting between the platform and the frame and flush with the upper sides thereof, tubes fixed to and depending from the reduced portions of said brackets and each having a long vertical slot and an aperture diametrically opposite said slot and formed in its upper portion, rack bars movable vertically in said tubes and having blocks at their upper ends which normally occupy the said small openings in the frame, pins fixed to said rack bars and movable vertically in the slots of the tubes, jaw-closers fixed to the rack bars and normally receiving the upstanding lugs on the reduced portions of the brackets and adapted to be moved upward on the end arms of the bail-shaped jaws to move the transverse portions of said jaws together, vertically swinging frames receiving and mounted on the said depending tubes, spring-pressed pawls mounted on said frames at one end thereof and arranged to engage the teeth of the rack bars, dogs carried atthe opposite ends of the frames and movable into and out of the recesses in the rack bars, means extending between and connecting the lower ends of the depending tubes, an upright tube rising from said connecting means, rockshafts xed at their outer ends to the said vertically swinging frames and journaled at pins on the rack bars and having weights on their outer arms.

2. In a burglar trapping apparatus, the combination of a frame having an opening, a yieldingly supported platform arranged in said opening, brackets fixed at the under side of the frame, bail-shaped verticallyswinging jaws pivoted at their vends to the brackets and normally resting between the opening walls and the edges of the platform, tubes fixed to and depending from the brackets and having vertical slots, rack bars movable vertically in said brackets and tubes and having pins movable in the tube slots and also having recesses, jaw-closers carried on said rack bars, vertically swinging frames mounted on the depending tubes, pawls carried at one end of said frames and adapted to engage the teeth of the rack bars, dogs carried atthe opposite ends of said frames andl normally disposed in the recesses ofthe rack bars, a connection between the platform and the vertically swinging frames for swinging the latter incidental to downward movement of the platform, and suitably supported levers having arms connected to the pins of the rack bars and also having other arms bearing weights.

3. In a burglar trapping apparatus, the combination of a vertically movable platform, suitably supported movable means for catching and holding a burglar, vertically movable means for closing said catching and holding means, means for raising said closing means and thereby closing `the catching and holding means, movable means for normally holding said closing means against action, means movable by downward movement of the platform for releasing and permitting of operation of the closing means, adjustable means on the said normally holding means for preventing retrograde or downward movement of the closing means, and adjustable means adapted in one position to prevent movement of the normally holding means and operation of the apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence yof two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN PLE SEC. 

